Underskirt



IVI` 0. MCIVIAHAN.

UNDERSKIRT,

L, l (mi Panted 06h31, 1922.

Patented @et 3l, 31922.

MINNIE 0. MQMAHAN, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

UNDERSKTRT. l

.application led January a Texas, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Underskirts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in underskirts or petticoats.

The object of the invention is to provide a skirt which may be made of a single piece of cloth and pro-vided with a gathered or plaited waist portion having an overlapping waist band.

Another object is 'to provide a skirt arranged to overlap and fall freely from fastenings on the waist band only; whereby a double thickness of the cloth is had at the back and a shadow proof panel formed, and whereby the free and unfastened Aportions of the overlaps, below the waist band permit an unrestricted spreading thereof and fall back into shape. Such a skirt makes for simplicity and a ready fit as the elastic waist band will permit of waist variations and the freely hanging overlapped portions will undergo such relative movement when the wearer sits, that wear willnot be had in one place as in the usual skirt.

A particular and important aim of the invention is to eliminate seams, plackets, gores and darts and save time and expense in manufacture.

A skirt designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more4 readily understood from the reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an underskirt made in accordance with this invention, the skirt being stretched outand vthe outer side being shown,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the skirt contracted and ready 'to be put on by the wearer, v

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the skirt fastened and in position as it is worn, a portion being broken away to show the over la ping portions, and

ig. 4 is a cross sectional detail on the line 4C-t of Fig. 3.

lln the drawings the numeral 10 designates a straight length of cloth from which the ifi, ieai. serial no. 437,293.

skirt is made. In manufacturing these skirts, lengths may be successively cut from a bolt of goods. 1While it is not essential \the skirt may have an ornamental hem 11 at its bottom provided with hem stitching 12 and a scalloped or other lower edge 13. lAlong each vertical edge of the skirt a row of hem stitching 14, may be provided if desired. llt is to be understood that the skirt may be made of a plain and unornamented piece of' clot-h. At the upper edge of the skirt a hem 15 1s turned inwardly to form a waist band. ln this hem a strip of elast-ic 16 is secured. The elastic strip is considerably shorter than the length of cloth and thus when contracted to its normal position, causes the upper portion of the skirt to be athered into plaits as is shown on Fig. 2. t is to be understood that the elastic waist band is not designed to fit waists of all sizes, as the skirts will be made in the usual range of sizes, but the elastic waist band will permit of slight variations, thus assuring a fit. A comparativel small and light elastic strip may be use thus making for comfort. The hem 15 is preferably not stitched to elastic strip thus permitting the plaits to be adjusted and the skirt to be smoothed out in front if desired. lt is further pointed out that an elastic waist band is not essential as the skirt may be plaited onto an ordinary waist band not shown) or an ordinary draw string not shown) may be used in the hem 15. ll prefer to use the elastic waist band and l provide a resilient fastener 17 at one end of the hem 15 on the front side of the skirt. A. second resilientY fastener 18 is oset inwardly on the said hem from the fastener 17. At the other end of the hem l5 a socket 18 is secured to the inner side of the skirt and a lecond socket 17 is oiT-set'inwardly on said ein.

To adjust the skirt toher person the wearer places the same with the hem 15 around her waist and overlaps thexyvertical edges at her back so that the socket 18 is fastened on the fastener 18 and the socket 17 on the fastener 17. This overlapped portion provides a double thickness of the cloth and forms a shadow proof panel at the back of the skirt. The vertical edges of the skirt fall freely from the waist band and are not fastened below the waist band. By this arrangement the skirt may be easily spread so that the wearer may walk or mount steps easily.

`Also in sitting the overlaps'will spread and' move relatively more or less so that wear in one place will not occur. It will be seen that the skirt will readily` adjust itself to the body of the wearer. he skirt may be easily laundered and ironed. The absence of seams makes for comfort and the eliminav tion of gores and darts makes for simplicity and econom in manufacture.

What I-cllaim, is:

1. An underskirt formed of a single length of fabric, a continuous waist band formed elastic throughout its entire length lapped end portions of the waist band adjacent to the said vertical edges.

2. An underskirt formed of a section ef fabric provided at its top with a hem, a continuous waistband formed elastic throughout its entire length and extending through thc hem whereby the uppper end of the fabric is gathered upon the elastic waist band, the vertical edges of the fabric and the end portionsof the elastic waist band overlapping for providing a panel of double thickness, the overlapped e-nd portions of the waist band being substantially stiffer than the intermediate. portion thereof whereby the stretching of the waist band occurs principally in the intermediate portion and the width of the -panel retained substantially constant without 'substantially ldisturbing the gathering of the same, and means to conne-ct the overlapped end portions of the waist band at points near said vertical edges.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

MINNIE O. MCMAHAN.

xf- M- 

